UAB Department of Mathematics
SYLLABUS (Online Version)
MA 098 – Review of Basic Algebra
Semester: Spring 2014 Section: QL
Instructor: Laura Stansell
Instructor e-mail: stansell@uab.edu phone: 934-2154
Instructor Office Hours: Available upon request. The course instructor will answer
student questions by email.
Communication Through UAB E-Mail - If you need to communicate one-on-one with the
Course Instructor, please use the UAB email system (stansell@uab.edu). Students may
request individual conferences by email. Conferences can be held in on campus or via
telephone.
The Course Instructor checks email daily (Monday through Friday and most weekends) and
will respond within 24 hours.
UAB email: It will be necessary that you establish a BlazerID and a UAB email address.
Official course communications will be sent to that address. (They can be forwarded to
another email account of your choosing.) Go to www.uab.edu/blazerid for information on
establishing your BlazerID. For UAB email account assistance, send an email to
userservices@uab.edu, or call (205)934-3540.
NOTE: All instructor office hours are conducted in the UAB Math Learning
Laboratory (MLL), on campus in room 202 Heritage Hall.
NO REGISTRATION is allowed once classes begin.
For Course Syllabi posted prior to the beginning of the term, the Course Instructor
reserves the right to make changes prior to or during the term. The Course Instructor will
notify students, via e-mail or Blackboard Announcement, when changes are made in the
requirements and/or grading of the course.
Attendance policy: Attendance at the Midterm Exam and Final Exam is mandatory unless the
student chooses the remote proctoring option. Roll will be taken. Students must present a
current Photo ID Card for identity verification. Students may not sign the roll for another
student. Violation of this policy will result in a grade of F.
1
Prerequisite.
See ACT Math Subscore/GPA Grid in the latest UAB Class Schedule for
Math Screening Requirements.
Please Note: In this version of Ma098, the student does not have instructor-led lectures to
assist in learning the course material. The course is designed primarily for working students
whose schedule does not permit them to attend a lecture session, and for students who live a
considerable distance from the campus. Students who are generally weaker in mathematics,
or who feel the need for more instructor contact, should not take this version of the course.
STUDENT EXPECTATION STATEMENT
The Course Syllabus and Schedule serve as a Contract by which the student must comply. An
excuse of “not knowing” information covered in these documents is not an acceptable excuse
for making mistakes in this class.
• Students are required to complete weekly assignments and learning activities by the
deadline. All deadlines are based on Central Time. There are NO EXTENSIONS of
DEADLINES.
• Students are expected to submit all individually written Problems to the Course Instructor in
Bb per the due dates and in their respective locations (under the current Week). Problems are
NOT accepted in e-mail.
• Students are expected to submit all Homework, Quizzes, and Tests in MyMathLabPlus by
the due dates.
• Students are expected to check their UAB e-mail daily and respond within 48 hours to
instructor emails. Regular communication via e-mail with the Course Instructor is expected.
• All students are required to obtain and use the UAB email address that is automatically
assigned to them as UAB students. All official correspondence will be sent ONLY to the
@UAB.edu email address.
• All students are responsible for ensuring that the correct UAB e-mail address is listed in Bb
by the end of Week 1 as well as to ensure that their UAB e-mail account is in proper working
order during the entire time they are enrolled at UAB. Email is the only way the Course
Instructor can, at least initially, communicate with students. It is the student’s responsibility to
make sure a valid e-mail address is provided. Failure on the student’s part to do so can result
in the student missing important information that could affect his grade. Students are
responsible for the information that is sent to their UAB e-mail account. The Course
Instructor will not accept e-mails sent from e-mails accounts than other UAB.
• Students are expected to follow the instructions for each assignment. Instructions for each
assignment can be found under the current Week in Bb. A deduction in points will be applied
to submitted assignments which do not comply with the instructions.
2
• Students are expected to devote an average of 8 to 12 hours per week to the assignments.
• Students are expected to have a back-up plan in the event their computer has operational
problems, there is loss of electricity, or there is loss of Internet access. These are not an
excuse for late or incomplete submission of assignments, nor are they acceptable reasons for
an assignment deadline extension. UAB’s MLL, most public libraries, school libraries,
university libraries, etc. have computers with Internet access and are available for use by the
public.
• The Math Learning Lab (MLL) in 202 Heritage Hall is available for student use Monday
through Friday. Students in this course may use the computers to complete assignments, and
they may get assistance from math tutors. Go to the math department website and click on
Student Resources tab for details (http://www.uab.edu/mathematics).
• Students are expected to submit complete Problems into Bb under the appropriate Week
button before the deadline. Once a problem is submitted, it will be graded as is. Therefore,
students are expected to triple-check their work before submitting it. Bb will not allow a
student to return to a Problem once it is submitted. Therefore, the student must submit only
completed problems.
• Students are expected to participate in this course by following the Course Syllabus, Class
Schedule, and any additional information provided by the Course Instructor.
• Students are expected to remain in regular contact with the Course Instructor via Bb and
UAB e-mail as well as through participation in the Discussion Board and submission of
assignments. The Course Instructor will communicate on the Bb Announcement page,
Discussion Board and/or via UAB e-mail.
• Students are expected to use the UAB e-mail for one-on-one instructor-student conferencing.
If a student has a question about a particular problem from MyMathLabPlus (homework or
quiz), then he should use the Ask My Instructor link to email the instructor.
• Students are expected to review their grades and comments on graded assignments in Bb.
The Course Instructor does not use e-mail to communicate grades or comments about graded
assignments. Assignments are usually graded within one week of the deadline. It is the
student’s responsibility to review grades one week after the deadline and e-mail the Course
Instructor within the same time period if a grade is not showing.
• Students in this class will be expected to:
Speak and write Standard English.
Work cooperatively with others.
Possess independent reading and study skills at the university level.
Possess basic computer skills.
3
Possess the appropriate computer software and hardware necessary for successful
participation in the class.
• Because instructional materials on the course website may be copyrighted, students may not
download materials on the site to their desktops, laptops, or PDAs, or alter or distribute any
materials on the course site, unless clearly directed to do so.
Materials: You must purchase a MyMathLabPlus course ACCESS CODE and the
course workbook. You may purchase the access code and the workbook shrink-wrapped
together (this is the least expensive way to purchase the access code and the workbook). You
may also purchase the access code and workbook separately.
The workbook is Review of Basic Algebra, UAB Math 098 Student Workbook.
You must purchase a MyMathLabPlus course ACCESS CODE unless you are repeating
the course and the same online textbook is being used. The access code comes in a Student
Access Kit for MyMathLabPlus that you can purchase as a stand-alone item or the Student
Access Kit with the access code comes shrink-wrapped with the workbook. You must
purchase the Access code and the workbook. You can purchase these two items separately
or you may purchase the access code shrink-wrapped with the workbook.
USEFUL WEBSITES FOR THIS COURSE
UAB Blackboard Learn 9.1: http://www.uab.edu/bblearn
Current UAB math grade: https://secure.cas.uab.edu/mll/db/
UAB Department of Mathematics (see Student Resources): http://www.uab.edu/mathematics
ONLINE COURSES AT THE UAB COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES - All online
courses at the UAB College of Arts and Sciences utilize Blackboard Learn 9.1. In every online
course, students should read all information presented in the Blackboard course site and
should check for updates at least every 24 hours.
Blackboard SITE MAP FOR MA 098
ANNOUNCEMENTS - This is the location for announcements from the Course Instructor.
Students are required to check this site daily.
COURSE INFORMATION - The following information can be found here: Instructor
information, Syllabus, Schedule and Additional Assignment Information, Rubric for MA 098
Group Problems, Groups of Four Rules, and ProctorU testing information.
ASSIGNMENTS – Under this tab students access the weekly Problems. There is a link to
MyMathLabPlus, but students will exit the Blackboard platform to access the homework,
quizzes, and tests.
4
PROBLEMS/Group Discussions – There are 14 weekly Problems. Each week students are
required to participate in a Group Discussion (according to the Group Discussion Rules posted
on Blackboard) to solve a problem. Then they must submit their solutions as individual papers
in Bb by the deadline (see Course Schedule). Students can earn up to 8 points on each
individually submitted Problem and up to 7 participation points on each Group Discussion for
a total of 15 points. See the Rubric for MA 098 Problems for details. Students will earn either
0 points or 7 points for the group discussion, as students are expected to participate fully in
the group learning process. No partial credit is given for the group discussion. However,
partial credit may be given for the individual paper submitted (see the Rubric for Ma098
problems for details).
Students will be randomly assigned to different groups each week. To earn full credit for a
Group Discussion, students must go to Groups in Bb and participate in the Group
Discussion in a meaningful way on two different days with a minimum of three
meaningful posts. Meaningful posts include ideas and questions that are specific to the
Problem. No credit for short or one word posts. The Group Discussion will only be available
as shown on the Course Schedule, and participation on two days is REQUIRED. Groups must
meet in Bb Groups to receive Group Discussion credit. If a group needs assistance or
clarification on a problem, they should ask the instructor to join the discussion.
At the beginning of the week, students must READ the Problem and work on it before
participating in the Group Discussion. Students can only earn the points for the Problems if
their individual papers are submitted by the deadline in the proper location (Click on the
appropriate Problem under Assignments or in the appropriate Week in Bb). Problems
CANNOT be sent by email. There are no extensions or make ups for missed Problems or
Discussions. Students should NOT wait until the deadline to submit their papers because they
run the risk of running out of time or having technical problems. NO late submissions are
allowed.
This assignment gives students an opportunity to work together to improve their quantitative
reasoning ability and conceptual understanding of mathematical ideas.
• HOMEWORK - There are 14 homework assignments. Homework is completed and
submitted in MyMathLabPlus, but a link to the software is located in Bb. Each HW is worth 5
points. When the homework is submitted or closed in MyMathLabPlus, a score and
percentage is given. The UAB score (out of 5 pts) for the homework can be found in Bb under
UAB Grade for MA 098 or online at https://secure.cas.uab.edu/mll/db/. An unlimited number
of attempts can be made on each homework problem before the deadline, so students should
be able to earn 100% on all homework. If a problem is marked with a red X as incorrect, then
the student can click on Similar Exercise at the bottom of the page and work another problem
correctly for full credit (before the deadline). Students can go in and out of the homework as
many times as they like before the deadline (all of the work is automatically saved). Students
earn points for homework completed on or before the due date. After the due date, students
can review homework assignments and work similar exercises, but they cannot change their
score. All homework is available at the beginning of the term, so students may work ahead as
5
much as they like. There are no extensions or make ups for missed homework because the
work can and SHOULD BE completed IN ADVANCE of the deadlines.
Weekly Reading Assignments: For each homework and quiz set, students are required to
read the corresponding lesson from the Ma098 Student Workbook. For example, for
Homework 8 and Quiz 8, students should read Lesson #8 from the workbook BEFORE
beginning work on Homework 8 and Quiz 8. Students should read each week’s lesson
before beginning the corresponding homework and quiz set for that week.
Weekly Video Lectures: For each homework assignment, students are should watch a set of
prerequisite video lectures for that homework assignment. The video lectures are media
assignments that you will find listed on MyMathLabPlus. You may watch these video
lectures on your personal computer. You should not begin a homework assignment until
you have opened the prerequisite video lectures that go with that particular homework
assignment.
• QUIZZES - There are 14 quizzes. Quizzes are completed and submitted in
MyMathLabPlus, but a link to the software is located in Bb. Each quiz is worth 5 points. Once
the quiz is submitted in MyMathLabPlus, it is scored and a percentage is given. The UAB
score (out of 5 pts) for the quiz can be found in Bb under UAB Grade for MA 098 or online at
https://secure.cas.uab.edu/mll/db/. Students take the quizzes on their own schedule, but they
can only earn the quiz points if the quiz is taken on or before the due date. Students must
complete the quizzes BY THEMSEVLES without any assistance from another person, but
they may use their textbook and notes. The quizzes are timed, and they must be taken in one
sitting within 30 minutes. Students cannot exit the quiz or that will count as one of their
attempts. Each quiz can be taken a maximum of two times. The higher grade attained will
count. All quizzes are available at the beginning of the term, so students may work ahead as
much as they like. There are no extensions or make ups for missed quizzes because the
work can and SHOULD BE completed IN ADVANCE of the deadlines.
• TESTS - There is a Midterm Exam and a Final Exam. Tests are completed and submitted in
MyMathLabPlus, but a link to the software is located in Bb. Each test is worth 325 points.
Once the test is submitted in MyMathLabPlus, it is scored and a percentage is given. The
UAB score (out of 325 pts) for the test can be found in Bb under UAB Grade for MA 098 or
online at https://secure.cas.uab.edu/mll/db/. Students must take the tests during the scheduled
dates and times under supervised conditions.* All tests have a 100 minute time limit and must
be taken in one sitting. Students must use the MyMathLabPlus calculator or their
computer (Windows/Safari) scientific calculator during testing. NO personal calculators
are allowed. Students may use scratch paper during a test, but no credit is given for work done
on the scratch paper. One or more photo IDs will be required for testing.
6
Practice Tests are available in MyMathLabPlus. The Practice Tests do not count towards a
student’s grade, but they are recommended as a way to help them prepare for their tests.
Students may take the practice tests as many times as they like.
Two Options for Taking Tests:
OPTION 1: Students can take the course tests under the supervision of the instructor on the
following dates:
Midterm Exam: Friday, 2/21 (12:20-2:10pm) in HHB202
Final Exam: Friday, 4/18 (12:20-2:10 pm) in HHB202
If you choose this option you are required to be on time to the testing sessions. If you are late,
you will not be able to test. Please note that remote testing is not available if you miss the
above test sessions.
OPTION 2: Students can take the course tests using remote proctoring services through
ProctorU. You will find the information regarding ProctorU on Blackboard. Please read the
ProctorU handout information carefully before choosing this option for testing. Students are
responsible for the additional costs involved with this option and are responsible for the
technical requirements needed for this option. The deadline for each test under this
option is the same deadline listed under option 1. Do not wait until the test due date to
take and/or schedule your test. If you choose to wait until the due date to take your test,
you are assuming the risk that some situation may prevent you from taking your test.
Power outages, technical issues, and student personal problems are not acceptable
reasons for missing a test deadline.
Make up Policy for Tests: If a test is missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, the
student should contact the instructor as soon as possible and go through the appeal process.
The student must submit an Appeal Form (available in the Math Department Office in 452
Campbell Hall or from the instructor) and supporting documentation to the Math Department
Appeals Committee. The Appeal Form with supporting documents attached must be received
no later than one week after the missed deadline. The appeal will be reviewed by the Director,
the course instructor, the course coordinator, and the Supervisor of the MLL. The student will
receive a prompt reply as to the adjudication of the appeal but should continue working in the
course. Failure to schedule or take a test with ProctorU, computer problems, student
personal problems, and not having the appropriate textbook or software (permanent
access) are NOT acceptable excuses.
GROUPS – Students must go here each week to hold their Group Discussions about the
Problem. There are 14 Group Discussions that are worth 7 points each. Participation is
REQUIRED during the days shown on the Course Schedule.
7
UAB GRADE for MA 098 - Students can find a link to the math department database to
view their status in the course (after the drop/add period) by clicking on Check Your Grade
in Bb. This is where students can see how many points they have earned towards their final
grade.
WEEK 1, 2, 3, …… The current week’s objectives and assignments are listed here. This is
the best way to keep up with your assignments.
MAKE-UP WORK POLICY – In general, NO MAKE-UPS are allowed.
There is no appeal for missed deadlines for Problems, Homework, or Quizzes.
If a major test deadline is missed due to a serious, verifiable circumstance, the student should
go through the appeal process. See the detailed information under Make-Up Policy for Tests.
COURSE GRADES - Students earn their grade in the course by accumulating points earned
on their assignments. There is a maximum of 1000 points available. No extra credit is given,
so students should earn as many points as possible throughout the semester by completing
assignments by the deadline. NO late assignments are accepted or allowed.
All assignment grades will be posted and maintained in the departmental database, which can
be accessed in Bb by clicking on Check Your Grade or on any computer at
https://secure.cas.uab.edu/mll/db/.
Note that final grades are awarded by TOTAL POINTS EARNED, not by percentages.
Percentages give students an idea of how they are doing in the class on a day-to-day basis, but
they are constantly changing due to different deadlines. Percentages are not rounded. Total
points and percentages won’t usually match until the end of the semester (after all deadlines
have passed). Homework, Quiz, and Test grades are automatically updated and loaded into the
database on an hourly basis. All other grades will be manually entered by the instructor as
soon as possible after grading (usually within one week).
See the following tables for point and grade distribution:
Grade Element
Homework
Quizzes
Problem/Discussion
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Total
Max Pts per
Assignment
5
5
15
325
325
Points Earned
900-1000
800-899
700-799
500-699
Below 500
No. of
Assignments
14
14
14
1
1
Total Points
Course Grade
A
B
C
D
F
8
70
70
210
325
325
1000
Access for a Course in MyMathLabPlus
All Homework, Quizzes, and Tests for this course are available in MyMathLab Plus.
A MyMathLab Plus account has already been established for you and must be activated.
Log in to BlazerNet and click on the MyMathLab Plus link.
To gain access to your course assignments, you must purchase a MyMathLab Plus access
code.
**Please note that there will be NO EXTENSIONS for missed homework, quiz, or test
deadlines due to failure to purchase access to your online materials.
If you have any questions regarding your MyMathLabPlus account or access to your account,
email your course instructor or you may stop by the Math Learning Lab in HHB202.
Course Completion: The course is complete once the student takes the Final Exam. No other
points may be earned after the Final Exam has been taken.
Cell Phones. Student cell phones must be TURNED OFF and PUT AWAY during ALL
testing sessions (either on campus or through ProctorU).
Notebook. Students are required to have a notebook in which they can record notes, file this
syllabus, file instructor e-mail messages, and file other course related information.
Disability Support Services (DSS). DSS offers special accommodations to students who
qualify. The UAB DSS office is located in the 9th Avenue Office Building, telephone: 9344205, e-mail: dss@uab.edu. Students who have a DSS-approved accommodation for
extended test times will take quizzes and tests that have a longer time duration. See your
instructor for further information.
Course Description: (3 semester hours). Whole Numbers. Integers. Solving Equations and
Problem Solving. Fractions. Decimals. Ratio and Proportion. Percent. Geometry.
Polynomials.
9
CLASS SCHEDULE – The class schedule can be found in Bb under Course Information.
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
01/06
01/07
01/08
01/09
01/10
1/11
01/15
01/16
01/17
1/18
01/22
01/23
01/24
1/25
01/29
01/30
01/31
2/1
02/05
02/06
02/07
2/8
02/12
02/13
2/14
2/15
02/19
02/20
02/21 MIDTERM
2/22
02/26
02/27
02/28
Problem 1 open
01/13
Problem 1 due
01/14
Problem 2 open
01/20
Problem 2 due
01/21
Holiday
01/27
Problem 4 open
02/03
Problem 5 open
02/10
Problem 6 open
02/17
Problem 7 open
02/24
Problem 8 open
03/03
Problem 9 open
03/10
Problem 10 open
03/17
Problem 11 open
03/24
SPRING BREAK
03/31
Problem 12 open
04/07
Problem 13 open
04/14
Problem 14 open
HW 1; Quiz 1 due
Problem 3 open
Problem 3 due
01/28
HW 3; Quiz 3 due
Problem 4 due
02/04
HW 4; Quiz 4 due
Problem 5 open
02/11
HW 5; Quiz 5 due
Problem 6 due
02/18
HW 6; Quiz 6 due
Problem 7 due
02/25
(12:20 - 2:10pm)
HW 8; Quiz 8 due
03/05
03/06
03/07
3/8
03/12
03/13
03/14
3/15
Problem 9 due
03/11
HW 9; Quiz 9 due
Problem 10 due
03/18
HW 10; Quiz 10 due
03/19
03/20
03/21
3/22
03/26
03/27
03/28
3/29
Problem 11 due
03/25
SPRING BREAK
04/01
HW 11; Quiz 11 due
SB
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
04/03
04/04
4/5
04/09
04/10
04/11
4/12
04/16
04/17
04/18 FINAL EXAM
4/19
04/24
HW 12; Quiz 12 due
Problem 13 due
04/15
SPRING BREAK
04/02
Problem 12 due
04/08
HW 7; Quiz 7 due
3/1
Problem 8 due
03/04
HW 2; Quiz 2 due
HW 13; Quiz 13 due
Problem 14 due
HW 14; Quiz 14 due
04/21
04/22
04/23
04/28
04/29
04/30
(12:20 - 2:10pm)
04/25
10
4/26